Story:
Albert Harold Gurd was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in July 1893 and baptised at St. John the Baptist Church on 6 Aug 1893 the son of Sidney Gurd, a Blacksmith, and Susan Gurd (nee Brown).  He lived most of his early life at Horse Hill Lane, Donhead St. Mary.  He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Wiltshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1438).  He was soon promoted to Shoeing Smith with the rank of Corporal. He attended the usual annual camps until he was embodied on 4 Aug 1914.  He served in France and Flanders from 5 Jun 1916 to Mar 1918. During this time his unit became part of the 3rd Reserve Battalion of the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 320512).  He suffered from a very bad bout of Pneumonia in Jan 1918 and was hospitalized in Rouen, France, and later transferred to the 1st London Hospital, Camberwell, London, for further treatment.   He was finally discharged on 15 Apr 1919 being physically unfit for further service and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B319424 and granted a short term pension.  He was also later awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal.  He had married Harriet Jane Penny at the Parish Church, Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 6 Aug 1917.  The 1921 Census shows him living at Newtown, West Tisbury, Wiltshire, working as an Estate Blacksmith. In 1928 he had enlisted in the Territorial Unit of the Royal Tank Corps (Service No. 548123) with the rank of WOII. By the time of the 1939 Register he and his family had moved to Gas Cottages, Pythouse, Tisbury, Wiltshire, still working as a Blacksmith. He was obviously embodied into the army with the Royal Armoured Corps (which the Wiltshire Yeomanry had become part of). He was discharged in due course on 14 Mar 1943 having completed 15 years and 15 days service and eventually awarded the Africa Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.  His death was recorded in Mere, Wiltshire, during 1955.  His brothers, Keble Sidney Gurd and Reginald Leslie Gurd, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Laurel Goddard was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 30 Oct 1894 and baptised there on 8 Apr 1895 the son of Frederick Goddard, a Bootmaker, and Fanny Goddard (nee Castle).  He lived all his early life in Sixpenny Handley.   He had enlisted with the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 10505),  He served with the 5th Battalion in the Balkans from 11 Jul 1915 and was in time promoted to Corporal.  He was eventually discharged on 13 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   He married Beatrice Mary Squibb in Wimborne, Dorset, on 16 Nov 1921.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 10 The Parade, Poole, Dorset, working as a Retail Confectioner and Tobacconist.  His death was recorded in Poole, Dorset, on 29 Nov 1979.  His brothers, Littleton Percival Goddard and Ewart Moss Goddard, also served during the conflict.

Story:
Littleton Percival Goddard was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 14 Apr 1888 and baptised there on 2 Jun 1888 the son of Frederick Goddard, a Boot Maker, and Fanny Goddard (nee Castle).  He lived his early life in Sixpenny Handley until by 1911 he had moved to Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset, where he worked as a Bricklayer.   He had enlisted on 2 Sep 1914 and joined the 5th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 10823).  He served in the Balkans from 11 Jul 1915 where he received gun shot wounds to his right leg.  He was discharged on 18 Jul 1916 being physically unfit for further service and awarded the Silver War Badge No. 102770.  He was also awarded, in due time, the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  He was also in receipt of a small pension for a short period of time.  He married Nellie Alice Amelia Hyde on Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, on 10 Feb 1917.   The 1921 Census shows him living in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, working as a Chauffeur. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living in High Street, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, described as a General Shopkeeper as well as being a Volunteer in the Observer Corps.  He died in Sixpenny Handley on 11 Oct 1951  and was buried there on 15 Oct 1951.  His brothers, Ewart Moss Goddard and Laurel Goddard, also served in the conflict.

Story:
Leonard Goddard was born in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, on 17 Mar 1897 and baptised there on 16 May 1897 the son of Tom Goddard, a Carpenter, and Edith Goddard (nee Maidment).  He lived all his early life in Sixpenny Handley.   He had enlisted on the 29 Jan 1915 and joined the Royal Marines Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 18447).  It is not known where he served but on his discharged was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him living with his parents back in Sixpenny Handley working as a Labourer for a Coal Merchant. His marriage to Fanny Castle was recorded in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, during 1922.  By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Pitts Lane Cottage, Wilton, Wiltshire, working as a County Council Roadman as well as being a volunteer ARP Warden.   He died in 1985 and was buried in Gillingham, Dorset, on 12 Nov 1985.   His brothers, Darcy Walter Goddard and William George Goddard, both served during the conflict.

Story:
Edward George Gear was born in Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire, on 8 Apr 1890 the son of George Gear and Anna Maria Gear (nee Jenkins).  He lived all his early life in Ebbesbourne Wake area and by 1911 was living there with his sister, following the death of both parents, working as a Waggoner on a Farm.   He had enlisted with the Royal Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. DM2/206447).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served but on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  He married Alice Maude Matthews at Alvediston, Wiltshire, on 18 Aug 1920 and the 1921 Census they were living at 6 William Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was working for the Great Western Railway as a General Labourer.   By the time of the 1939 Register he had moved to 43 Grosvenor Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, now described as a Railway Shop Pounder and Shearer.   His death was recorded at St. Margarets Hospital, Stratton St. Margarets, Wiltshire, on 27 Jan 1952.